Current distributer and timer.



J. M. SMITH.

CURBET DISTRIBUTER AND TIMER.

APPLIOATION HLBD un 17. 1912.

1,064, 77 Patented June 10, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

70 rosfnmc mugs WITNESSES: j INVENTOR: /l v JIMEJM I/Y///Jl l/ BY if w/ .C I

I TORNEYS J. M. SMITH.

CURRENT DISTRIBUTBR AND TIMER.

APrLIoATIoN FILED 11u17. 1912.

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' 1Mb-JM 6mm,

ATTORNEYS Patented June 1(1), 1913.

UNITED s'rArns "PATENT onirica. 5

A JAMES M. SMITH, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR or `ONE-HALF To CHARLES ADSIT MAGRUDER, `F BRYNMAWR, Il?ENNSYLVANIA.

CURRENT DISTRIBUTER AND TIMERh Y To all whom z'zf may concern l Beitknovviithat LJAurs M. Siiirinacitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia'. in the county of Philadelphia and State of yPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Current Distributei's and Timers; and l do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable oth rs skilled iii the art to which it appertains to make and ilse the saine, refei'ence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciication.

The present invention relates, generally,

to improvements in timing and distributing ii'iechaiiisms for theignition system of interiial combustion engiiies;'and, the present invention has reference. more particularly, to

a novel construction ofautoniatic timing and'V distributing mechanism for controlling an electrical current to iiiteriiiitteiitl)1 make and break the electric circuit thereof, and successively connect the sparking terminals of a plurality of engine-cylinders with the source of generation of said electric current, soas to successively ignite or explode the charges of gas within the cylinders of the engine.V 4

The present invention lhas for itsprincipal object to'provide a novel, simple and ef feet-ive'mechanism ofthe character' above set forth. adapted to be lgeared with lthe main shaft ot an explosive-engine in such a Inan-v ner. so that its parts move in a proper timerelation to the movements of the different pistons in the respective cylinders; and, in so doing, properly time 'and distribute the electric current successively to the sparking terminals. .4

A further object df the present invention is to provide an ignition system mechanism Ivhichais of such construction Vthat themak-y v ing and breakingdevices which control the electric current will only operatewhen the main shaft of the engine turns" or rotates in the proper or iiornialrdirection.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly evident from the following detailedv description of the said invention.

lYith the various objects of'the prese-nt invention iii view, thesaid invention consists, priiiiarily,in the novel electric current Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11119110, 1913. Application mea May 17, i912; serial Np. 697,879.

timing and distributing mechanism hereinafter set forth; and, the/invention consists, furthermore, in the no vel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and the 'parts thereof, as well as in the details of the; construction of thesame, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and'th'en finally embodied I' .nit-ion system showing in proper/ electrical connection therewith, a. novel timing and distributing mechanisn'i, the lat-ter being illustrated in sideelevation, and made ac-4 cordingto and. embodying the principles of the present invention. F 1g. 2 is an interior 'plan view of uthe internal make andbreak mechanism; Fig. 3 is a similanview showing the normal operation kof the make and break mechanism; and Fig. 4 vis anothersimilar view showing the manner in which said make and break mechanism is prevented fromv closing.. fthe circuit, when the main shaft of) the engine to turn or'rotate in the wrong direction. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken on-`line 5 5 in said Fig., 2, looking in the vdirection of the arrow ar, the additional distributing mechas4 Fig. 6 isa detailV nism being also shown. vertical crosslsection, taken on line 6-6 in' said Fig. 2,' looking in the direction of the se y arrow y; and Fig. 7 is a det-ailtransverse section-,fl taken on line 7 7 in Fig. 5, said tribut ingmechanism.

' Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts. y

Referring now t the several figures drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates a casing whichis adaptedto,l contain. and support the noveLtiming and distributing view illustrating more particularly the dis-f mechanism. Preferably integrally connect Y ed with said casingl, and being centrally i disposed and extending outwardly fronr the,

back 2 thereof, isf-a tubular hub 3 whichl is provided with a reducedextension 4 allaptj, ed tor receive ayokemembe'r or collar '5, 'saidmember or collar'being provided with` a siipport-ing arm or Abracket 6 for connection with the frame orcasingofftheinternal combustion engine, and for' the purpose of supporting said casing inproper connection,therewith. Journaled in said tubular hubv 3, so as to rotate therein, as in-a bearing, is a spindle 7 which is pro vided at its outei end with an enlarged head S, which forms a shoulder abutting against. the outer end of said reducedzextension e and thereby preventing .any longitudinal movement of the said spindle 7 in an inward direction. The said spindle 7 extends within the interior of the said casing 1, and is .provided with a collar 9,'suitably secured thereto, which engages the back2 of said casing 1, so as to prevent any longitudinal movement of said spindle 7 in anioutward direction. The outer end of said spindle 7 is provided with a receiving socket for opening 10, adapted to receive one end ofpaV counter-shaft 11, which is usually geared so as to f be driven from the main driving shaft of said engine, and whereby said spindle Y is rotated in proper relative t-ime to the 'move mentor rotation of said niaindriving shaft of the engine. Said counter-shaft 11 is secured in its properly coupled relation with the said spindle 7 by means of "a set-screw 12, or any other suitableineans. Theinner Vend of said spindle 'i' is'also provided with a reduced extension, as '13,having a longitudinally extending key-'way or groove 14 in its outer surface; and, connected with the free end of said extension 13 is a still further reduced portion, forming a stud or shank 15. Connected with said reduced extension 13, so as to be rotated thereby, is

la cani-member 16 which is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting cam-points to be screwed into a suitably screw-threaded tov opening, prepared ,for its reception, in the back 2 of thecasing 1, lThe free end of said 'j Ffulcruin-post is provided'withla'pivot-stud J21 upon which is pivotally mountedthe suprto orting block 22 ofA a make and break device. Suit-ably' secured upon the said supporting blockis an outwardly extending bracket or arm 23, andisuitably connected therewith, ,is a spring-plate 24, said spring-plate" 21 par- Valleling the said bracket oi' arm and being slightly. od-set therefrom so as to giver'ooni for the exercise `of its spring-function or yieldableness.r rllhe end of the said bracket or arm 23 is doubled upon itself so as to for-m a retaining nger 25 which serves to limit the` outward movement or spring of.

said spring-plate |24. Connected with the from the fixed end of the said bracket Yor y arm 23 and extending across the end-surface of said supporting-block 22.

Q8 of an upwardly projecting stop-projccf tion 29,-y which is adapted to be engaged b v "the said stop-arm QTto limit the pivotal movement of said bracket or arm' Q3 and the said spring-plate 24,-1n one direction, whereby its lnormal position is located. Secured upon the opposite side of said supporting block QQ, to that upon which said bracket or arm :'23 is attached, is an outwardlv extending lever or arm 30 which is provided at its free end with a pair of horizontally extending and perforated ears 31, adapted to suport a vertically disposed pintle-pin 3% Pivotally mounted upon said pintle-pin 3Q is? a pawl-member 33 provided with a camlike nosing 34. Said pawl-member 33 is also formed with suitable shoulders 35 upfsn its upper and lower sides which in their engagement. withthe rear edges of said pei'- forated ears 31 prevent the said pawl-nieniber 33 from oscillating or yielding in one direction. Extending outwardly from said pavvl-member 33 is a perforated ear or lug 36 adapted to receive the one end of a coiled spring 37, the other end of which is secured to an anchor-post 38 fixed upon the inner surface of the back Q of said casing 1, b v means of a screw 39. AThe said spring 3T serves thev double purpose of maintaining in and returning to normal positin both said pawlfmember 33- and said lever-arm 30, as well asF said bracket or arm Q3 and said spring-plate Q4. o

The reference-character 40 indicates the base-plate of a carrier-post 41, the' same bcing secured to the inner side 0f the back 2 of said casing 1, but being insulated therefrom by suitable sleeves and washers 42 ofv suitable insulating material. Connected with the said plate 40, in such a manner so as to permit of its projection from the ex# terior of Athe casing 1, is a binding-postati, whereby a suitable electrical connection for the passing to saidv ball-plate 40 and its carrier-post 11 of :an electric current is provided. djustably connected with. said carrier-post 41 is a contact-screw Ll-l, the inner end'of which is provided with a suitable contact-point L15, preferably made of plati- 'num` or other suitable` material. The shank Secured upon .the back 2 of said casin T 1 is the baseiece iis` ofsaid'contactiscrew 44 projects outwardly y throughsaid casing 1,/"the latter being provided w `ith asuitable hole or opening 46 adapted for such purpose, and the outer end of said contact-screw 44' being Iprovided with a :head or fingerpiece 47 whereby the same may be properly adujsted so as to pre'- sent its contact-point 45 i-n proper relation to the contact-point. 26 of the spring-plate 24 herein-above described. Suitably Vconnected with the outer end of said casing 1 isa cylindrical casing 48 which vis provided '51 being also formed with an externally screw-threaded part 53 and an` internally enlarged portion or opening 54. A chainbered ,or/ hollow nut-shaped body 55 is screwed upon the said externally screwthreaded part 53, against a `screw-threaded washer 56 also screwed upon said externally screw-threaded part 53, so as to bear against the outer Surface of said coveraplate 4 9. The said nuts-shaped bodyv 5 5 isfprovided with an`outwardly extending portion 57 at the extreme end of which projectsa reduced screw-threadedsh'ank 58 upon which is 'screwed a nut-piece 59, and by means of which an electric conductor or wire may be attached thereto. Arranged within the internallyenlarged portion or open-ing 54 of` said sleeve 5l is the head' 60 oa 4contactplug or brush 61, a coiled spring 62being arranged back of said head 60 lto* press the said plug orfbrush 61 outwardly, so as to compel the same tomakeelectrical contact f with certain parts of the distributing mechanism about to be described. 'y j Connected vwith the said stud or 'shank `15 of the spindle 7, by means of a transverse pin 63, or other suitable fasteningmeahs, is a hub-member 64, the same bein'g'made of somev suitable insulating material. The

'outer end of said hub-member 64 is iprovided with a recess or socketfwhich is adapt.- ed to receive the' disk-portion 65 of a metallic contact armor brush 66,the said diski tact-points or disks l67.the same being portion being secured in any suitable mannel" to sald hub-member, so as to turn or rotate-therewith. Secured upon the inner side of the said casing 48 lare a plurality of con- PTO* vided with s'crew-tlireadedshanks `68 which project through` and outwardly ffl-om the said casing 48, and provide in connection wfith nut-members 69, suitable binding-posts Yto which are secured the wires orv electrical conductors'70-wl1ich lead to sparking terminals arranged withinjthe several cylinders of the internal` combustion engin-e, 1n-

the usual manner. Saidbrush 66 when ro,- tating, successively contacts with the respective .contact-points or `disks' 67, tosucces-y sively distribute to the sparking. terminals, the electrical current' for producing the ignition-spark. The previously mentioned plug or brush 61 4isalso'adapted to make constant contact with said contact-arm or brush 6.6. i

The reference-character 71 indicates a battery, or other source of'electrical energy', and the reference-character 72 indicates an induction or spark-coil, the respective bnd-' ing postsI 73 oi ther-primary circuit of which are respectively connected with the said batitery 71 and said binding-post 43, by means of the primary circuit Wires 74, the comc plated primary circuitbeing made through the ground and the conductork or wire 74 leading back tothe battery 71. The' binding post 75 of the secondary circuit of said coil 72 is connected, by means-of the circuit-wire or c`0ndu'ctor76, with the screwthreaded shank 58 forming thegbinding post of the mechanism of said plug or brush '61, whereby the secondary or induced current is passed to -said contact-arm or brush 66 andv linally .distributed to the spark-terminalsof the internal combustion engine, as above mentioned; l f -Having thus describedthe general construction of the novel automaticgtimer and distributer, I will now briefly set forth" its use and operation. -The battery 71, in generating the electrical current, passes the 'same through the conductor 74 and thel primary circuit of the coil 72' intowthe binding post c,

43, base-plate, 40, carrier-post 41, and contact-screw 44. The spindle 7 `being' rotated l inAproper time and speed-relation bythe .l

main shaft of the internal combustion en gine,vcauses a rotation -ofsaid cam-member 16 in the direction of the arrow'. ain Fig. 2 andr consequentlyk the cam-points 17 b are brought into contact with the cam-nosing 34 of the paWl-member 33'. When so en-- gaged, any pivotal movement of said paWl-e' member-33 upon itsl pintle-pin 32is resisted, since the shoulders 35 thereof are caused to press against the edges ofA said perforated ears 31 of the lever-arm 30, Consequently the'lever-arm 30 itself is pushed forward,

which turns or oscillate's said supportingblock 22, and thereby carries said bracketarm 23 and its spring-plate 24 forward, so

that the contact-point 26er the latter is broughtfinto contact with the contact-point .45 of said contact-screw, vthe-said springplate 24 yielding Ito the pressure of the said contacting points. vContact having thus been made, the electrical current passes vinto said spring-plate 24,V bracket or -arm v23, supporting .blpck 22, andl thence through the fulcrum-post` 19 /to 'the casing 1,` and through theA interconnecting parts to. the

frame-work of the engine whi'cbprovides-a v ground, the current being thence conducted through theconductor 74` back to the batbers, lever-arm, and supporting-block 22, to-

. tery, thereupon completing the Primary circuit'of the coil 72. rlhe secondary current `clearly understood by those skilled-in the -art to which this invention appertains. As

the cam-point 17 moves away from engagev i ment with said paWl-meniber 33, the coiled i 2ol any closing of the primary circuitby rea. Y son of the operation of said *make and break4 ymechanism. ln other Words, the pawl-memspring l7, which has beenplaced under'- teni sion by thesvvinging or forward movementn of said lever-arm 30, pulls said paWl-memgether with said bracket yor `arm 23 and spring-plate 2li, back to their normal initial positions, thereby breaking the primary circuit.v rllhus, the successive engagement nof said cam-points 17 with said paWl-member,

Whenthe former are rotated in a ,pjroper direction, causes an intermittent making and breaking of the primary-circuit and a con-l sequent generation'of the secondary cur- 'rent which is properly distributed -to the sparking-terminals in. accordance with the needs of the engine. i

@ne of the important features of the novel construction of make and break mechanism is that the coiled spring 37 is normally under little or" no tension, except when contact is made, thereby decreasing the strain, and Wear and tear upon the same, and increasing its life and eticiency, Whereby the danger of disorder or inoperativeness of the make and break mechanism is greatly decreased `or obviat-ed.

lf, perchance, the main shaft `of the engine is rotated, byreason of any cause, in a direct-ion opposite to its normal and operative direction of rotation, the saidcam-l pointsv 17 are brought into contact with the opposite face of'thepavvl-member 33, and

the same` is caused to oscillate upon the pintle-pin 3Q Without movingl forward or swinging said lever-arm 30, thus preventing ber 33 yields to and permits thepassage of ,i the said 'cam-points 17. The coiled' spring 37 always returnsl tliepavvl-member to its normal position, -vvhen such/yielding ofthe same has taken place.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be clearly evident, that l have produced a'novel and automatic device for controlling, timing, and distributing electrical energy to the sparking-terminals of aninternal combustion engine; and, it will be readily understood, that changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details ot the connue/niv? l tion, asset' forth jin the foregoing specical.

i tion `and as dei'inedn the clauses of the -claim which are appended thereto. Hence, l do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as vherein set forth, and as" illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do lt confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts. K f

`l. lln a' device ofthe kind described, a stationary contact device, a movable contact device, alever-arm connected with said movable contact device, a paWl-member pivot-l ally connected with -said lever-arm, ,said

tion, and means adapted to intermittently movable contact device. v

2. ln a device of the kind described, a stationary contact device, a movable contact device comprisingv a fulcrum post, a suporting block pivotally mounted upon said ulcrum-post, a yieldable contact device se secured to said supporting block, a pawlmember pivotally mounted at the end of said lever-arm, means upon said paWl-member for engaging said lever-arm when said said paWl-meinber being yieldable when pressed in the o posite direction, and a rotating cam-mem er adapted to engage said paWl-member.

casing, a spindle rotatably arranged in said casing, a cam-member secured to said spindle,.v said cam-member having cam-points,

ing, a movable contact making and break-` ing device, means for supporting said contact making and breaking Adevice upon said ulcrum-post, a lever-arm connected with said supporting means, a paWl-memyber pivotally arranged in the end of said lever-arm, said paWl-member being provided with shoulders iii,engageme`.nt With with said paWl-member, a coiled spring connected with said flug, means for anchoring said spring ,Within said casing, a cam-nosing connected with said pawlmember adapted to be engaged by the campoin'ts of said cam-member to oscillate said lever-arm and said contact ,making and breaking deviceivvhen said cam-inem er is rotated in a normal direction, said pawlmember yielding to said cam-points when direction, and means insulated p from said casing for receiving the contact of said movablecontact making and breaking device.

paWl-memberbeing yieldable in one direc-` engage said paWl-member to operate said' pavvl-member is pressed in one direction,

3j In a device of the kind described, a,

ycured to said ysupporting block, a lever-arm a fulcrum-post mounted Within said caslll.

said lever-arm, a perforated lug connected x said cam-member isrotated in an abnormal 4. In a device of the kind described, a casing, a spindle rotatably arranged in said casing, a cam-member secured to said spindle, said cam-member having cam-points, a ulcrum-post mounted within said casing, a movable contact making and breaking device, means for supporting said contact making and breaking device upon said fulcrumpost, a lever-arm connected withsaid supporting means, a -paWl-member pivotallyarranged in the end of said lever-arm, said aWl-meinber being provided with shoulders in engagement with said lever-arm, a perforated luO connected with said aivl-member, a coiled spring connected wit vsaid lug,

. means for anchoring said spring Within said casing, a cam-nosing connected with said pawl-member adapted to be engaged by the cam-points of said cam-member'to oscillate said lever-arm and said contact-making and breaking device when said cam-member is rotated in a normal direction, said pa'wlmember yielding to said' campoints when said cam-member is rotated in an abnormal direction, means insulated from said casing ,for receiving lthe contact o said movable contact making andbreaking device, comprising a base-plate provided with a carrying post secured upon and Within said casing, but electrically insulated therefrom, a contact-screw adjustably supported by said carrying-post, and a binding-post connected with said base-plate for connecting said contact-screw in a primary electrical circuit.

5. In a ydevice of the kind described, a casing, a spindle rotatably arranged in said casing, a cam-member secured to said spindle, said cam-member having cam-points, a ulcrum-post. mountedwithin said casing, ya movable contact making and breaking device, means for supporting said contact making and breaking device upon said fulcriimpost, a. lever-arni connected with said supporting means, a IpaWl-member pivotally 'arranged in the end of said lever-arm, said means for anchoring said spring Within said casing, a cain-nosiiig connected with said paivl-member adapted to be engaged by the cam-points of said `cam-member to oscillate said lever-arm and said contact making and breaking device when said cam-member is rotated in a normal direction, said pawlmember yielding to saiducam-points when said cam-member is rotated in an abnormal direction, means insulated from said casing for receiving the contact of. said movable contact making and breaking device,com prising a base-plate provided with ay carrying post secured upon and within said cas'- ing, but electrically insulated therefrom, a contact-screw adjustably supported by said carrying-post, and a binding-post connected with said base-plate for connecting said contact-screw in a primary7` electrical circuit, and means co-acting with said make and break mechanismfor distributing a secondary electrical circuit to the sparking-terminals of 4an internal combustion engine. f

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this sixth/day of April 1912.

JAMES M. SMITH. l 

